Arrival of President Obama and First Lady a majestic picture

Friday

Sep 7, 2012 at 2:37 PMSep 7, 2012 at 4:10 PM

By MICHELLE KINGSTONmkingston@fosters.com

NEWINGTON —Air Force One touched down at Pease Air Force Base at 11:51 a.m. On Friday.

Media crews arrived over an hour before to prepare for the touch down. Secret Service crews were already in place, surrounding the property and preparing the vehicles used in the motorcade. Pease Fire Department was also present.

A select group of approximately 25 people were invited onto the base to watch the arrival. The audience was first greeted by Gov. John Lynch and his wife, Susan.

The plane descended into Portsmouth smoothly and just six minutes past the scheduled arrival. The past few days may have felt like fall, but Friday reminded the Seacoast that it is still summer. With temperatures as high as 84 degrees and not a cloud in the sky Friday, Air Force One landed with ease.

Once the plane parked, Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden were seen stepping out of a vehicle to stand outside Air Force One to greet President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The vice-president and his wife had arrived earlier on Air Force Two.

The plane's door opened, the crowd cheered and saluted and the Obama's appeared. The scene was majestic as the couple, matching in navy blue, walked down the staircase with smiles and grace toward the welcoming crowd.

The Biden's, Obama's and the Lynch's were silent a few minutes greeting one another with hugs, conversing just outside the plane. The President and Vice President removed their coats and continued to walk towards the group of people anxiously awaiting to shake their hands. The First Lady and the Second Lady were just steps behind them.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., they waved goodbye to the crowd, to the media and to security and stepped into their vehicle to head to Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth.

This visit is Obama's first campaign event following the Democratic National Convention where he officially accepted his party's affiliation.